HEALTH + WELLNESS
None of this means we need to turn Christmas into a wellness bootcamp, of course. Becoming at least 30 % cheeseboard, drinking fizz at lunchtime and spending many a confused‘ what day is it?’ afternoon in front of a festive flick are all part of the what makes Christmas so weirdly wonderful. The trick is making sure the merry bits are not buried beneath the mental load; here’ s how to keep mind, body and soul somewhere close to calm.
CLOCK OFF … AND MEAN IT
For many of us, Christmas does not begin when the tree goes up; it begins when the laptop finally shuts. The problem, therefore, lies in trying to complete an entire year’ s work before it does. Instead of attempting a heroic December clear-out, divide work into three columns: must happen before Christmas; can be handed over; can wait until January. Be ruthless, then use the final hour of your last working day for a deliberate shutdown- send handovers, set the jaunty out-of-office response that your sluggish January self will eye-roll, note any immediate deadlines and leave yourself a short‘ first day back’ list to ease the newyear transition.
Make a firm decision on what being off actually means, too. If your role allows it, remove work emails from easy reach and resist the‘ I’ ll just check’ reflex. Annual leave is supposed to create distance from work, not relocate the office to the sofa.
BUDGET AND PLAN AHEAD
Money can distractedly soundtrack the whole season if you let the reins slip- in fact, around 33 % of Britons are typically worried about the effect of Christmas on their finances. The antidote is not finding a more impressive present; it is deciding what you can afford before the shopping begins. Setting a budget is the obvious one, but talking openly with friends and family about gift limits( although thoroughly un-British) can be surprisingly well-received. Try a family Secret Santa, presents for children only, a fixed per-person cap or swapping‘ stuff’ for a meal, walk or day together; some people prefer substance over style.
Crucially, remember to post any presents ASAP. Nothing raises the blood pressure quite like standing in a December queue clutching a parcel and asking whether‘ guaranteed’ really means guaranteed. Keep an eye on last UK posting dates and put the dates straight into your calendar. Better still, make your own deadline several days earlier- the final( more expensive) posting date should be your emergency escape hatch, not Plan A.
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